Manning's streak to end, Geno Smith to start Sunday for Giants

The Giants are benching Eli Manning to start Geno Smith on Sunday in Oakland and to play Davis Webb at some point late this season too.

“Geno will start this week,” McAdoo said in a statement Tuesday. “Over the last five games, we will take a look at Geno, and we will also give Davis an opportunity.”

Manning has started 210 consecutive regular-season games, the second-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history, behind Brett Favre’s 297. He has started every Giants game since Nov. 21, 2004, when he took over for veteran Kurt Warner in the 10th game of his rookie season. Manning has also started 12 postseason games, and twice led the Giants to Super Bowl victories.

Geno Smith will start his first game for the Giants.

(Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Manning was given the option of starting against the Raiders to keep the streak alive, but declined.

“Coach McAdoo told me I could continue to start while Geno and Davis are given an opportunity to play,” Manning said. “My feeling is that if you are going to play the other guys, play them. Starting just to keep the streak going and knowing you won’t finish the game and have a chance to win it is pointless to me, and it tarnishes the streak. Like I always have, I will be ready to play if and when I am needed. I will help Geno and Davis prepare to play as well as they possibly can.”

Eli Manning’s consecutive start streak, the second longest in NFL history, will come to an end.